DirecTV said to be considering Hulu acquisition once again

There’s no shortage of potential suitors when discussing an acquisition of online video streaming destination Hulu. Earlier this month it was rumored that Yahoo was looking to pick up the asset following their failed Dailymotion bid but that was before Mayer and company agreed to acquire Tumblr for $1.1 billion.

Now we’re hearing there’s another company interested in a possible deal – DirecTV. Sources with knowledge of the discussions told The Wall Street Journal that the satellite provider is considering a strategic partnership or an outright purchase of Hulu.

Much like Yahoo, this isn’t the first time that DirecTV has toyed with the idea of purchasing Hulu. The satellite provider circled the wagon back in 2011 when Hulu was being shopped around. Nothing ever materialized, however, because the two parties couldn’t come to an agreement on pricing.

It could be a big boon for DirecTV as Hulu now offers content from several major television networks including ABC, FOX and NBC. It also makes sense for DirecTV, a company that’s garnered a lot of press in recent months, as they have made it clear that the future of programming lies in online distribution, not satellite.

At last check, Hulu plays host to more than three million subscribers that shell out $7.99 per month for the premium service. Free content subscribers are subjected to advertising. Last year, Hulu generated roughly $700 million in revenue. For what it’s worth, News Corp president Peter Chernin reportedly bid around $500 million for Hulu last month.